Divesting Poems

Enigma

The chaotic times shake the sands of disarray,
settle on the stratified shelf of the disorganized life.
In moments moving with dispersed dust of perturbation,
the truth of trust oscillates on the ruffled ripples of disorder. 

In the bewildered efflux of errant confusion,
everything changes in the cauldron of conundrum.
The mysterious alchemy of mental metamorphosis
reveals the fantasy façade of perplexing transformation.

In the disorderly squall of divesting dismay
my marooned mind is disheveled to a dishabille state,
splinters the secret leitmotif of the embedded emotions,
the confounded cascade of consternation carries them away.

When disparity develops from consuming closeness, 
dancing to the music of mystifying maze makes no sense. 
At the end of the day our riddled roads diverge disoriented,
I choose within ambiguity the one that takes me away from you.

Our differences are like pieces of puzzle called life,
I drift with no rancor out of the realm of extant enigma. 
I won’t explore you if at night you become mystery aurora,
I’d walk on the pathway of my life the way I want, for it’s mine.

Tightie Whities

What should I write, what do you think
How's about tightie whities
The kind that get most women all worked up
Divesting themselves of their nighties

Even if you plead you have a headache
She's in no condition to listen
Those tightie whities are driving her crazy
Down below she starts goin' fishin'

All of a sudden your headache disappears
Now it's you who's all gung ho
You yell out “tally ho ride 'em cowboy”
She screams bloody murder “woo ho”

That continues for about thirty-eight seconds
Then collapsing exhausted on the floor
You scream out “got a cramp in my leg”
She yells, “want more, want more, want more!”

Think to myself that's the very last time
It's polka dot boxers from now on
Tightie whities will be the death of me
At my age, I ain't got that long

Ha... a fairy tale!!!

Tar and Feathers

We exist in space and time 
invisible, unseen for who we
truly are exchanging 
words for thoughts
never face-to-face
but touching just the same
vitriol tossed with the sweetness
fair barter for some form 
of kind heaven exchanging 
inclement weather
to the vestries of 
each others’ 
netherworlds 
divesting 
tar and feathers



Candide Diderot. ‘24 





head on.

Bewildered Psychic Efflux

The disordered sands of entropy, 
churned by the wheel of chaotic time,
settle on the stratified shelf of the disorganized life.
In moments moving with perturbed dispersed dust,
the truth of trust oscillates in tumult 
on the ruffling ripples of mayhem. 

In the bewildered efflux of errant disarray,
everything rumpled changes in nonplussed instants, 
except for the notion of change.
The mystifying alchemy of metamorphosis
reveals the real façade fragile
of the perplexing psychic transformation.

In the baffling squall of divesting dismay,
my mind disheveled in befuddled moments 
into a dishabille state of confusion,
splinters the leitmotif of the embedded emotions.
The confounded cascade of consternation 
carries them away to the abyss of oblivion.

Yet, when my castle of sand on the shore of yearning
tumbles down in a clutter of dispersed debris,
in its disorientation I discover discombobulated 
the emotive flute of dormant feelings, 
play the tune of unfazed ecstasy, 
making the lucid music of mystique memory.

Consciousness Correction

The turning wheel of time stirs up the dust of disarray,
that settles in the crumbling cauldron of disordered life.
In the maiming moments of disdained dejection,
truth tumbles in the mélange of disorienting chaos. 

Under the scorching blaze of the envy flame,
the desiccated soul suffers parched and forsaken,
searches for the niche of sanguinity in self-belief
to get the self-seeking shade of hope in frustration.

The sapling of irresistible longing rooted deep in desire,
nurtured in the receptive core of the longing heart,
blossoms the flower of passionate hedonism,
luring the being with the illusion of impulsive urge.

In the disorderly squall of divesting dismay,
the mangled mind is disheveled to a dishabille state,
tries to snap the chords of captivating greed,  
the psychic cascade of unconcern carries them away. 

Chasing the mirage across the dunes of desolation,
the hope of taking life to the oasis disappears deluded.
As the beleaguering storm of disenchantment blows, 
consciousness takes the correction course to undo despair.

Disorientation

The sands of entropy the wheel of chaotic time churns,
settle on the stratified shelf of the disorganized life.
In moments moving with the dispersed dust of perturbation,
the truth of trust oscillates on the ruffled ripples of disorder. 

In the bewildered efflux of errant disarray,
everything rumpled changes, except for change.
The mystifying alchemy of metamorphosis
reveals the real façade of perplexing transformation.

In the disorderly squall of divesting dismay
my mind is disheveled to a dishabille state,
splinters the leitmotif of the embedded emotions,
confounded cascade of consternation carries them away.

Yet, when my castle of sand on the shore of yearning
tumbles down in a clutter of scattered debris,
in its disorientation I discover the dormant flute of feelings, 
play the tune of ecstasy with the music of memory.

Sacred Relationships

For monotheists,
like Christians
and Jews
and Moslems,
robust relationships with other humans
may feel more sacred
than more troubling secular relationships
with defensive business of predative nature
like mosquitoes
out for personal profit
and voracious rabbits
in the lettuce
and rattling snakes
saying Think Again.

Yet, for polytheists
and panentheists
more organically inclusive sacred integrity
may arrive with gifts to see
and hear beyond anthro-privilege
thinking
and feeling
nondifferences
in co-arising natural solidarity
co-investing spiritual synergy

Ego centering thoughts
within eco-network feelings
for EarthTribal organic need
feeding resonant relationship
cooperatively together,
rather than further divesting
competitively apart.

Nonviolent communication skills 
build co-empathic resilience
for restoring trauma preventing EarthJustice
Here and Now
where Ego happily resides 
in organic EcoSystems
rebuilding 
restoring
reconnecting 
religioning sacred global peace.

Skin Deep

I do not like the skin I’m in -
It’s dotted, dry and wrinkled,
Like paper with a reject poem -
Once smooth, now sadly crinkled.

Each little tap becomes a bruise,
A purple blotch, attesting
To all the years I’ve spent on earth,
A dermal-type divesting.

Some freckles, not here yesterday,
Have multiplied and scattered.
They would have bothered me much more
When my appearance mattered.

What troubles me some others might
Find trite and almost risible.
I should let go, for at my age,
To others I’m invisible.

Melody of Memory

The wheel of time churns the disowned dust,
settling on the desolate shore of deranged life,
in the tidal moments of dispersed perturbation
truth oscillates beyond clutch in chasm of chaos. 

Within the destined flux of dismantling disorder
everything succumbs to change except change,
where the alchemy of accosted metamorphosis
creates the fantasy façade of transformation.

In the devastating squall of divesting depression
my mind lies disheveled in the dishabille state,
strips off the fragile layers of frail emotions,
carried away by confounded cascade of essence.

Yet, when my sand castle in the yearning shore 
tumbles down in a clutter of scattered debris,
I discover the hidden flute of feelings, and play
the ecstasy tune with the melody of your memory.

________________

Not Placed In Contest : Anything Goes
Date Judged : February 8, 2022
December 4, 2022
Contest : Writing Challenge - X'd Poems Second Chance
Sponsored by : Constance La France

Wedding Dress

"Wedding Dress"



Innocence 
betrayed a white page
divesting romantic notions
of a pristine life marked
by sibilant soft-tongued seduction 
green apple plucked
wrapping serpentine legs like vines 
rosy cheeked blushing 
a student smarting around
Garden of Arden's Puck
captured essence 
from a torn portrait 
of picket fences 
climbing soft caresses
towards the wild
bee's stinging under
the tightly stitched
waiting room of a
hemmed in 
wedding dress


(LadyLabyrinth / 2020)







"To drench your skin with lover's rosy stain.
A chance to find a phoenix for the flame,
A chance to die, but can we
Dance into the fire,
That fatal kiss is all we need.
Dance into the fire
To fatal sounds of broken dreams.
Dance into the fire;
That fatal kiss is all we need
Dance into the fire
When all we see is a view to a kill"

Alchemy of Metamorphosis

The wheel of time churns up the entropy dust, 
settles on the unstable shelf of disorganized life. 
In maimed moments of dispersed perturbation 
truth oscillates beyond grasp on ripples of chaos. 

In the ordained flux of frenzied disorder 
everything ruffles to change except for change. 
The alchemy of elemental metamorphosis 
unveils the real façade of basic transformation. 

In the disorderly squall of divesting dismay surge,  
my mind is disheveled to a dishabille state, 
strips off the flimsy layers of antique emotions, 
confounded cascade of tear carries away all. 

Yet, when my castle of sand on the shore of yearning 
tumbles down in a clutter of scattered debris of heart,
I discover the hidden flute of feelings, and play again 
the melody of ecstasy in the symphony of memory.

August 10, 2020
Brian Strand's Contest : A Brian Strand You Choose

Grace and Solitude

The quiet words that speak to us without sound or saying
That stem from seedlings of open prayer within our heart
Divesting poise of quintessential quietude relaying
Conversation with our inner voice in the language of the sermons art

Cherished truths of mindful wisdom so calm with ease of thought
Prevail within the psalm's revelation rejoicing in knowing
Sighing in rivers placid currents as the gift of repose is sought
With a dowry of tacit grace its kind abundance flowing

The specter of dreams serenely embrace winged hearts above
To sing the score of its air stream bliss of harmony and rapport
Our spirit's dance on a brighter shore that gleams in the light of love
As ethereal music sates our restful core enhancing blithely evermore

Reaching our gate of reason and reverence cures our fears of gloom
For knowing ourselves in its deference is such a wise understanding
Showing heaven's redemption, its sacred sanctuary and hallowed room
In storms of life where cleansing rain brings solitude-our grace commanding


May 3, 2020
Grace and Solitude Poetry Contest
Sponsored by John Hamilton

Risky Opportunity

Viral rabidity 
dark depression closes in
egocentric
and economic
claustrophobic feelings
against overpopulated sick inhumanity,
competing ravenous clans
overwhelming individual rights
opportunities
health
autonomously-held capital wealth.

And then violently
politically explodes
internally devouring,
pregnancy rates collapsing,
eating 
and extracting
and divesting,
abusing and neglecting
our young
and old,
disabled
and vulnerably weak.

Global climate health crises
close in ego-sequestration
rumination
recusing ourselves from communication,
away from cooperative investment,
sharing touch and breath,
remembering what makes our hearts race
and slowly grow too quiet

And then non-violently explode
restoring peace of ease,
setting aside retributive justice against disease
as a secondary effect
of ecological healthy relationships
predicting unprecedented theological wealthy compassion
for Earth's global interdependent analogical climates
optimizing resilient organic wealth
of Earth's most resonant health.

Disarray

The wheel of time churns the entropy dust,
settles on the stable shelf of disorganized life.
In moments of dispersed perturbation
truth oscillates beyond grasp on ripples of chaos. 

In the ordained flux of disorder
everything ruffles to change except change.
The alchemy of metamorphosis
unveils the real façade of transformation.

In the disorderly squall of divesting dismay
my mind is disheveled to dishabille state,
strips off the flimsy emotions,
confounded cascade of tear carries them all.

Yet, when my castle of sand on the shore of yearning
tumbles down in a clutter of scattered debris,
I discover the hidden flute of feelings, and play
the tune of ecstasy in the symphony of memory.

November 20, 2019
Contest : Disarray
Sponsor : Nina Parmenter
December 15, 2019
Contest : Strand Special 3, Any Form, Any Theme
Sponsor : Brian Strand

Don'T Beatitudes

Don't speak of God's redemptive healing
while practicing competitions in marketing fear,
and self-righteous anger,
and xenophobic hate.

Don't expect voices for democratic integrity
from bodies raised for overpowering secular mendacity.

Don't listen for wealthy cooperation indoors
where speakers shout in supremacy against healthy outdoor profits
and prophets.

Don't anticipate ecological health
where no theological wealth
has gone before
to prepare love's multicultural way.

Don't expect us to invite your messages
without prior investment in cooperatively mediating channels.

Don't hope for ecstatic transport
without enchanting everyday polypathic communion
right where and when and why you HereNow already are.

Don't invest faith in secular wonders
without first finding a sanctuary 
caring for internal sacred awe.

Don't hope for celebrating outdoor public voices
without divesting of competing inside private tyrants.

Don't speak of love
while practicing hate
with tools of fear.

Don't curse or even talk
where you have not yet sacred walked.

• Short Divesting Poems
• Famous Divesting Poems
• Best Divesting Poems
• Read Divesting Poems
• Long Divesting Poems
• Divesting Quotes